Apparatus for supporting the reinforcing irons



June 27, 1961 2,989,793

PER AKE HENNING JAKOBSSON EI'AL APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THE REINFORCING IRONS Filed March 9, 1955 United States Patent Oflice Patented June 27, 1961 2,989,793 APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THE REINFORCING IRONS Per Ake Henning- Jakobsson, )rebro, Wilhelm Sebardt,

Bromma, and Karl-Gustav Ohm, Kumln, Sweden, assignors to International Ytong-Stabalite Co., Ltd., London, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Mar. 9, 1955, Ser. No. 493,222 6 Claims. (Cl. 25-118) This invention relates to the production of reinforced bodies of lightweight concrete and in particular to apparatus for supporting the reinforcing irons.

In the production of reinforced lightweight concrete the reinforcement is commonly introduced to the mold in the form of bundles or cages of the reinforcement bars. The bundles or cages are placed side by side in the mold and attached to vertically disposed supporting bars extending between holes in the bottom of the mold and supporting elements lying across the top of the mold. To form the reinforcement in this way has been troublesome, however, since the molds must remain inactive during the time when the reinforcement is being put in place and moreover the presence of the holes in the bottom of the mold gives rise to problems in producing bodies of common thickness and keeping the holes free from concrete which interferes with secure placement of the supporting bars.

According to the present invention the bundles or cages are made up separate from the mold in portable apparatus which can be quickly moved into the mold and will there provide good support for the reinforcement during the operation and particularly during those stages when the concrete mass is agitated by the introduction of pore forming air.

The main object of the invention then is the provision of means whereby the bundles can be made up separate from the mold yet firmly secured therein during the molding operation. Other objects will become apparent from the description following and the claims appended thereto.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the attached drawing. FIG- URE 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment; and FIGURE 2. is a cross-section taken through one of the lower corners of the frames in the illustrative embodiment, to show means for detachably engaging the top and bottom portions of each frame.

In FIGURE 1 reinforcement bundles or cages 10 are assembled with the use of two upright oppositely disposed frames 11. Each of the frames comprises a top portion 13 and a bottom portion 12 which are detachable from one another. The bottom portion 12 is intended to lie against the bottom of the mold. Therefore it is preferably in the form of a thin flat bar. Each bottom portion has a series of slotted supports 14 extending upwardly therefrom. Moreover taps 15 are welded to the ends of each bottom portion 12. The taps 15 are provided with diagonally drilled grooves as seen in FIGURE 2.

The upper portion 13 comprises a transverse member or tube 16 joining the upper ends of legs 17. The lower ends of the legs 17 are provided with longitudinal recesses so that they may be passed over the taps 15. Holes in the lower ends are provided moreover so that locking pins 18 can be passed through the lower ends and through the taps.

A series of sleeves 19 extend downwardly from the transverse member 16 for releasably engaging upwardly extending irons 24. The lower portions of the irons 24 are releasably engaged in the slotted supports 14. The sleeves 19 actually are engaged in holes in the transverse member 16 and have closed upper ends. Connected to the sleeves 19 and urging them downwardly are springs 20.

Means in the form of a lifting loop 22 on each transverse member .16 and a lifter 23, are provided for lifting the frames in unison.

The irons 24 actually are in the form of U-shaped irons disposed upright between the top portion and bottom portion of each frame with the bight of each disposed in the slot of one of the supports 14. These supports 14 are arranged intermediate the sleeves 19 and the legs of the U-shaped irons are engaged in two of the sleeves. Transverse bars 25 are then supported between the frames by engagement with the upwardly extending irons 24 disposed in each frame.

In assembling the apparatus apart from the mold, a number of lower portions 12 are laid out on a suitable horizontal plane. Next the top portions 13 are placed over them and attached to the lower portions with the aid of the locking pins 18. By raising each of the sleeves 19, the U-shaped upwardly extending irons 24 can then be inserted in the sleeves and disposed within the frames. The springs 20 move the sleeves downwardly into full engagement with the irons and press the irons into tight engagement within the slots of the supports 14. Finally the transverse bars 25 are attached by some suitable means to the irons 24.

Through the use of the lifter 23 the frame pairs are sunk into the mold and attached to it by the stop scnew means 21. When each frame pair is suitably in place the locking pins 18 are removed and the frame pair is supported at three sides by the mold and at the fourth side by the fixed top portion 13.

Once the concrete body has been cast and set, the top portions 13 are removed through release of the stop screw means 21. The upper face of the molded bodies is now completely free.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supporting reinforcing irons comprising a pair of upright oppositely disposed frames for suspending a portion of the reinforcing irons therebetween and each of which has a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion including two substantially vertically disposed legs, a transverse member joining the upper ends of the legs, and a series of sleeves extending downwardly from the transverse member for releasably engaging upwardly extending irons to which the firstnamed portion of irons are attached, said bottom portion having a series of slotted supports extending upwardly therefrom for releasably engaging lower portions of the upwardly extending irons, and means for detachably engaging the lower ends of the legs with the bottom portion, whereby irons are supported between the frames by engagement with the upwardly extending irons disposed in each frame.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transverse member has a series of holes therein in which said sleeves are slidably engaged, said sleeves having closed upper ends, and further comprising resilient means connected to said sleeves and urging them downwardly;

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means joining said frames for lifting them in unison.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slotted supports are arranged intermediate said sleeves, and said irons are in part U-shaped and in part straight, each said U-shaped iron being disposed upright between said top 3 portion and said bottom portion with the bight thereof in the slot of one of said supports and the legs thereof in two of said sleeves depending from said transverse membet, and said straight irons being disposed between opposing U-shaped irons in each frame.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for locking said lower ends of said legs to said means mounted on said bottom portion.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bottom portion is a thin flat bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,321 Burkholder et a1 Ian. 17, 1905 1,183,128

1,318,405 Perrott Oct. 14, 1919 Sheldon May 16, 1916 15 4 Rockwell May 12, 1925 Ham Aug. 31, 1926 Freyssinet July 21, 1936 Anderegg Mar. 11, 1941 Rogers et al Oct. 20, 1942 McCall Apr. 6, 1943 Miller et a1 Sept. 24, 1946 Fearon et al. Apr. 18, 1950 Hayes Sept. 12, 1950 Weinberg Mar. 25, 1952 Tournon July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 26, 1952 Great Britain June 5, 1928 Italy J an. 20, 1949 

